church life – Grace Evangelical Society

When Culture Seeks Revenge, the Church Seeks the Good (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

May 4, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, one another commands

Someone asked me how to cultivate a “culture of grace” in his church. That is precisely the right kind of question to ask. Grace should not only define the saving message (Eph 2:8-9), but the entire Christian life, including church life. Paul said we are no longer under law but under grace (Rom 6:14), and

Why You Can’t Help Everyone and Shouldn’t Try

April 30, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, ecclesiology, Watchman Nee

You can’t help everyone. You may want to. You may think you need to. And your consistent inability to meet every single genuine need around you may disappoint you. After all, the people around you are hurting, with problems, challenges, and questions to address. But do they all need to be addressed by you? You

Don’t Complain About One Another (James 5:9)

April 28, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, one another, spirituality

C. S. Lewis once said, “Hell begins with a grumbling mood, always complaining, always blaming others.” You don’t have to agree with Lewis’s eschatology to know that grumbling is ungodly. Sad to say, James had to warn his readers against it—providing us with another “one another” command: Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the

Don’t Put Your Brother Down (James 4:11)

April 22, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, James, one another commands, tongue, wisdom

George Harrison once passed a church billboard that read, “Gossip: The Devil’s Radio… Don’t Be a Broadcaster.” That message hit home. Because he was a Beatle, the press gossiped about him constantly, and it hurt. It inspired Harrison to write the song “Devil’s Radio.” Isn’t it interesting that even a non-Christian can understand and be

Should Christians Kiss One Another? (1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14)

April 14, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, Discipleship, ecclesiology, kiss, kissing, one another commands, spirituality

I grew up in a French city where it was customary to greet people with a double-cheeked kiss. At least, that was normal among my French relatives. Meanwhile, my British/English circles preferred a firm handshake or nod of the head—or, if they felt especially informal, a quick hug. I have been studying the many “one

You Can At Least Put Up With One Another (Ephesians 4:2)

April 9, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Christian spirituality, church life, one another commands, wisdom

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love (Eph 4:1-2; cf. Col 3:13). “You don’t have to like each other, but you do have to stop hitting each other!” That’s

Do Not Provoke or Envy One Another (Galatians 5:26)

March 15, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, fruit of the Spirit, one another, Sanctification

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking

Be Like-Minded Toward One Another (Romans 15:5)

March 12, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Church, church life, mind, mindset, one another, Sanctification, spiritual maturity

Two theologians were debating a passage of Scripture when the first one quoted a famous scholar supporting his position. “I don’t care about what he believes,” the other replied. “I care about what I believe!” You have your beliefs. So do I. We all do. Millions. About all manner of subjects. That is perfectly normal.

Accept One Another (Romans 15:7)

March 10, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - church life, one another

If social media has revealed anything about people, it’s that we can disagree on just about anything. And worse, we are quick to write each other off over those quibbles! Sadly, that is often true of the church, too. We disagree, fight, and break fellowship over the tiniest issues. But it shouldn’t be that way!

Do Not Bite One Another (Galatians 5:15)

March 8, 2021 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - Church, church community, church life, ecclesiology, Galatians, one another

In a classic scene from The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Inspector Clouseau walks into a German hotel and notices a small dog by the counter. “Does your dog bite?” he asks the hotelier. “No,” the old man answers. When Clouseau goes to pet the dog, it viciously attacks him and tries to chew off his